Chatan Seaport Carnival is famous for its fireworks.

Fireworks, music, water sports and more will be filling everyone’s schedules over the long Independence Day weekend holiday stretch, and the Seaport Chatan Festival on July 5^th and 6^th promises to be one of those highlights.

Races featuring all sorts of rafts are running throughout the carnival.

A surprise highlight from the organizers is the wildly popular AKB48 all-girls group that is going to perform on stage along with local live music acts and Hawaiian dance shows on both days. The exact time of the performance is being kept secret.

Spectacular fireworks cap the party at Chatan’s Sunset Beach on both days, https://goo.gl/maps/psLCQ. The carnival starts at 10 a.m. and runs to 8:30 p.m.  Admission is free. The festival takes place at Chatan’s Sunset Beach area at Mihama, Chatan, all day, both days, with those fireworks coming both nights from 8 p.m. ~ 8:15 p.m., just behind entertainment and traditional Okinawa events like Haarii, sporting competitions, and Eisa performances, and an indie rock music festival.  More than 72,000 spectators joined in the Seaport Chatan Festival last year.

Prior to the official opening ceremonies an indies music contest takes place, giving some local artist a chance to show off his or her talent to the attentive crowd. Many indie bands and artists show their talents every year at the Seaport Chatan Festival.

What would a summer festival be without Eisa and Chatan Seaport Carnival is no exception.

Of course there is the typical Japanese festival street food; corn dogs, takoyaki, those fried octopus balls, yakisoba, yakitori, potatoes, corn on the cob, and various other fried foods. This is a true part of Japanese culture, and organizers highly recommend visitors sample these flavors.

A word of warning; traffic is expected to be disastrous, as tens of thousands of spectators driving to the fireworks and then trying to leave at the same time results in traffic gridlock. Organizers say “If you are staying or living close by, biking or walking is likely to be your best option. It is also a good idea to get there early as the venue does get rather packed as it is a free show.” The available parking is mainly on the 1,500–car capacity parking lot located in front of AEON, still referred to as Jusco. Temporary additional parking lots will be available elsewhere in the Chatan area.

• 
• NO DATA